Fun at Work

Abstract
Over the past five decades, research has been done on how a playful approach at work helps both the employees and the organizations. While more and more corporations are becoming proactive on this approach, the conservative organizations express concern about playing at work. This literature review explains the method of how playing at work will create an open mind. The paper will demonstrate the five steps of how play at work benefits organizations. It points out the advantages while suggesting the need for a business culture to provide an infrastructure that will start the potential and capabilities in people.

Fun at Work     3
Play at Work
For almost five decades, studies have been done on the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain which relates to the thought process, and how play can reduce stress, and increase creativity and productivity. Although people think playing at work could possibly cost them their place of employment, more and more companies are realizing they have to reorganize the model of their work environment. More business leaders are beginning to understand that a playful approach can help relieve stress, stimulate creativity, and increase problem solving and adaptive abilities. Business leaders see how play at work helps create answers to complex problems. Research also shows that playfulness creates an open and healthy state of mind. However, some business leaders are conservative and believe business involves critical decisions and is much too serious to involve any kind of playful approach. They believe that when high stakes are involved, a controlled, researched and thoughtful approach is more appropriate. This examination of the theory of play at work will illustrate the effectiveness of play, how it affects the roles at work and how business leaders can invite play at work.
Childlike State of Mind
Playing at work is good for both the corporation and the employees who work for them. In Dan Pink's, “A Whole New Mind”... [continues]

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